Appalachian Regional Control Study says MORE JOBS!

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Appalachian Regional Control Study says MORE JOBS!

Appalachian Regional Control Study
A new study by the Appalachian Regional Control (ARC) entitled "Energy Efficiency in Appalachia" has found that implementing energy efficiency measures in Appalachia has the potential to help create tens of thousands of jobs and save billions in energy costs to Appalachian consumers over the next 20 years. Conducted for ARC by the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA), the report also finds that a bold energy efficiency initiative could cut projected energy use in the Region by up to 24 percent by the year 2030.

This is significant news for a region that claims the fastest growing energy appetite in the country. Situated in the eastern United States and following the spine of the Appalachian Mountains, Appalachia encompasses over 205,000 square miles and is home to 23.6 million people; it includes all of West Virginia and parts of 12 other states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Energy consumption here is expected to rise 28 percent between 2006 and 2030, compared with a 19 percent increase forecast for the United States as a whole. The study found that without significant investment in energy efficiency, by 2030 Appalachia is expected to need the electricity generated by 40 additional coal power plants and enough oil to fuel an additional 5.2 million cars.

But it's not all bad news. The ARC report, which was completed in partnership with Georgia Institute of Technology, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and the Alliance to Save Energy, points to the economic opportunites that accompany greater implementation of energy efficiency programs.

"There is an economy around energy efficiency just waiting to be unleashed," stated SEEA Executive Director Ben Taube. "Energy efficiency is not only the cleanest, cheapest, quickest, and largest source of new power, it also creates jobs and saves billions of dollars. Appalachia's energy efficiency resources have the potential to meet the region's future energy needs and ensure continued economic and environmental health."

The ARC study models policy actions that could reduce this need across industrial, commercial, residential and transportation sectors. The most effective of these include incentives for commercial heating, ventilation and air-condition and lighting retrofits; expansion of industrial assessment centers to help industries identify energy efficiency opportunities; support for commissioning of existing commercial buildings to ensure energy efficiency standards; clean car standards; and residential retrofit with resale energy labeling.

Already, ARC is making moves to bring about this necessary transformation. ARC Federal Co-Chair Anne B. Pope reports that the ogranization "recently launched two energy grant competitions, one focusing on renewable-energy and energy-efficiency training and certification programs for adults, and the other on renewable energy and energy efficiency in K–12 schools." Meanwhile, SEEA will continue to be active in programmatic and campaign development in this region. Their latest effort involves a request for proposals that rewards $500,000 to the city or county with the best plan for a community energy efficiency alliance.

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It's time to turn Appalachia  Green!

 
Dennis Spisak

Mahoning Valley Green Party

Ohio Green Party

 
www.ohiogreens.org

www.votespisak.org/thinkgreen/